QX3 Time-Lapse Movie Gallery

Picolinic Acid

An isomer of nicotinic acid, picolinic acid is produced in the pancreas and forms a complex with zinc. This biochemical complex may facilitate the passage of zinc through the gastrointestinal wall and into the circulatory system. When recrystallized from the melt, picolinic acid will slowly crystallize, forming beautiful dendritic needle-like crystals. The time-lapse movie was made using a modified version of the Intel Play QX3 microscope equipped for polarized light illumination with a full-wave (first order) retardation plate.